Traditionally, in Virginia, the Attorney for the Commonwealth has served his office on a part-time basis. This practice, at least in the larger, more urban counties and cities, has increasingly come into question, and, as a result, the General Assembly, at its 1976 session, agreed to House Joint Resolution No. 115.  Pursuant to the direction of the Resolution, the Council appointed a Committee to conduct an initial study and report to it.

George E. Allen, Jr., of Richmond City, an attorney-at-law, a member of the House of Delegates, and of the Council, was selected as Chairman of the Committee to make the preliminary study and report to the Council. The following persons were chosen to serve as members of the Committee with Mr. Allen: Hunter B. Andrews, a member of the Senate, and an attorney-at-law, Hampton; Howard P. Anderson, a member of the Senate and an attorney-at-law, Halifax; A. Joe Canada, Jr., a member of the Senate and an attorney-at-law, Virginia Beach; C. Hardaway Marks, a member of the House of Delegates and an attorney-at-law, Hopewell; A. L. Philpott, a member of the House of Delegates and an attorney-at-law, Bassett; Floyd C. Bagley, a member of the House of Delegates and an attorney-at-law, Prince William; Raymond R. Robrecht, a member of the House of Delegates and an attorney-at-law, Salem; Martin F. Clark, Commonwealth's Attorney of Patrick County; Robert F. Horan, Jr., Commonwealth's Attorney of Fairfax County; E. Carter Nettles, Jr., Commonwealth's Attorney of Sussex County; Royuston Jester, III, an attorney-at-law, Lynchburg; Joseph A. Massie, Jr., an attorney-at-law, Winchester; Stephen M. Phelps, an insurance broker, Rustburg; Thomas S. Winston, an attorney-at-law, Chesterfield; Sam Garrison, an attorney-at-law, Roanoke; and Claudette B. McDaniel, a housewife, Richmond.

Valuable counsel and assistance to the Committee was provided by the Honorable Fred G. Pollard, former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Chairman of the Compensation Board, and by John M. Rasnick, Jr., Executive Secretary of the Board. The Division of Legislative Services provided research and counsel to the Committee in its study.

The Committee submitted its report to the Council, and we have reviewed and studied it with care. We now submit the following report and recommendations.